Department of Preventive Dentistry, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
BMC Oral Health. 2021 Mar 16;21(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01476-5.
The high prevalence of periodontal diseases is an important oral health problem worldwide. It is necessary to increase public knowledge on and influence attitudes towards periodontal diseases in order to prevent them. However, the effect of oral health education (OHE) as a primary preventive method in China is unsatisfactory. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of extending an e-learning course regarding periodontal health by comparing the effects of oral health education regarding periodontal health (OHE-PH) on dental and non-dental students and the effects between a traditional course and an e-learning course among non-dental students at Sichuan University.
A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and a post-test was performed. A total of 217 dental students and 134 non-dental students attended a traditional course; 69 non-dental students attended an e-learning course. Before- and after-course questionnaires about periodontal health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours were administered.
After the traditional/e-learning course, the knowledge of both dental and non-dental students about periodontal diseases and self-reported behaviours for gingival bleeding and oral care improved. The non-dental students reached or surpassed the level of dental students before the course. The non-dental students taking the e-learning course performed better in some areas than those taking the traditional course.
OHE-PH was effective for dental and non-dental students. The e-learning course on OHE-PH was sufficient for improving knowledge and self-reported behaviours among non-dental undergraduates and was even better than the traditional course in some areas. The e-learning course may be an effective method for periodontal health education and oral health promotion among undergraduates.
牙周病的高患病率是全球范围内一个重要的口腔健康问题。为了预防牙周病，有必要提高公众对牙周病的认识并影响他们的态度。然而，作为主要预防方法的口腔健康教育在中国的效果并不理想。本研究旨在通过比较口腔健康教育（OHE-PH）对牙科和非牙科学生的效果，以及四川大学非牙科学生传统课程和电子学习课程之间的效果，来探讨扩展牙周健康电子学习课程的可行性。
采用预测试和后测试的准实验研究。共有 217 名牙科学生和 134 名非牙科学生参加了传统课程；69 名非牙科学生参加了电子学习课程。在课程前后，我们都使用了关于牙周健康知识、态度和行为的问卷进行调查。
在传统/电子学习课程之后，牙科和非牙科学生对牙周病的认识以及牙龈出血和口腔护理的自我报告行为都有所改善。非牙科学生在课程结束后达到或超过了课程开始前牙科学生的水平。参加电子学习课程的非牙科学生在某些方面的表现优于参加传统课程的学生。
OHE-PH 对牙科和非牙科学生都有效。OHE-PH 的电子学习课程足以提高非牙科本科生的知识和自我报告行为，在某些方面甚至优于传统课程。电子学习课程可能是在本科生中进行牙周健康教育和促进口腔健康的有效方法。
